Electrical connectors

ABSTRACT

AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ACCORDING TO THIS DISCLOSURE COMPRISES AN ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE BODY HAVING A PAIR OF JAWS EACH HAVING A CONTACT-ENGAGING SURFACE. A PIN CONTACT IS ASSEMBLED BETWEEN THE JAWS AND ENGAGES THE CONTACT-ENGAGING SURFACES TO COMPLETE AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTION. THE JAWS BIAS THE CONTACT-ENGGING SURFACES AGAINST THE PIN CONTACT.

Jan. 26, 1971 AKlN A 7 3,559,154

ELECTRICAL' CONNECTORS Fil ed m. s. 1968 v I 52 1 0 INVENTOR. 50a 64 AKf/V AKSU G.8 Y I BY A 7'7'0RNEYS.

United States Patent 01 iice 3,559,154 ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS Akin Aksu, 739 E. 223rd St., Torrance, Calif.

Filed Oct. 8, 1968, Ser. No. 765,799 Int. Cl. H01r 11/22, 13/50 U.S. Cl. 339-213 Claims ABSTRACT OF mi; DISCLOSURE An electrical connector according to this disclosure comprises an electrically conductive body having a pair of jaws each having a contact-engaging surface. A pin contact is assembled between the jaws and engages the con tact-engaging surfaces to complete an electrical connection. The jaws bias the contact-engaging surfaces against the pin contact.

This invention relates to electrical connectors and assemblies for connecting portions of electrical circuits together and particularly to flat socket connectors adapted to be joined to cylindrical pin contacts.

Heretofore, many connector assemblies for connecting portions of electrical circuits together have comprised cylindrical pin contacts adapted to be joined to cylindrical terminal connectors. The terminal connectors have been designed with a relatively large diameter making the connectors unsuitable for usage wherein bulk is to be avoided, and the system size needs to be kept to a minimum. For space conservation purposes, flat contacts have been constructed utilizing a pair of flat contacts which are joined together to complete the circuit. However, the flat con tacts have not been completely satisfactory. Flat contacts tended to separate when subjected to vibration, thereby opening the circuit.

It is an object ofthe present invention to provide a contact terminal adapted to mate with a pin contact in such a manner as to resist separation when subjected to vibration.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a flat connector capable of being joined to a cylindrical pin contact.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a connector assembly for use in completing electrical circuits, the assembly including a flat connector and a pin contact adapted to be joined together.

A connectbr according to the present invention comprises a body constructed of electrically conductive material. The body includes a pair of resilient jaws, each of which has a contact-engaging surface. The jaws are adapted to receive a pin contact of a mateable connector and the contact-engaging surfaces are adapted to bear against this pin contact. When the connectors are joined, the jaws bias the contact-engaging surfaces against the cylindrical surface of the pin contact to thereby hold the pin.

According to an optional and desirable featufe of the present invention, the pin contact is provided with a Patented Jan. 26, 1971 FIG. 4 is a side view elevation of a modification of the connector illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a section view taken at line 55 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side view elevation, partly in cutaway cross-section, of a modification of the connector illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a side view elevation, partly in cutaway crosssection, of the connectors illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 assembled together; and

FIG. 8 is a side view elevation, partly in cutaway crosssection, of the connectors illustrated in FIGS. 4-6 assembled together.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 there is illustrated the preferred embodiment of a connector according to the present invention. Connector 10 comprises body 12 which preferably has a substantially rectangular cross-section (see FIG. 2). Body 12 is preferably constructed of an electrically conductive material, such as copper or silver, and includes bore 14 formed from surface 16 parallel to axis 18. As illustrated particularly in FIG. 2, bore 14 is preferably arculate and has a diameter which is less than the longer dimension of the rectangular cross-section and greater than the smaller dimension of the rectangular cross-section. Bore 14 thereby forms a slot 20 through the body to divide a portion of body 12 into jaws 26 and 28.

Bore 24 is cut between opposite surfaces 22 and 22a normal to axis 18. Bore 24 joins the end of bore 14 opposite from surface 16 to prevent fracture of body 12 when jaws 26 and 28 are biased apart by a pin contact. Bore 24 is preferably of the same or slightly larger diameter as bore 14. The forward portion of jaws 26 and 28 is preferably provided with chamfer surfaces 30 between surface 16 and surfaces 32 and 34. Surfaces 32 and 34 define the small dimension of the rectangular cross-section while surfaces 22 and 22a define the large dimension of the rectangular cross-section.

If desired, recesses 36 and 38 may be provided in surfaces 32 and 34, respectively, to facilitate the springingapart-of the jaws. Recesses 36 and 38 are preferably at a greater distance from surface 16 than bore 24, and their location is determined by the dimensions of the part, being placed where the compressive forces would be greatest when the jaws are sprung apart.

A pair of pin contacts 40 and 42 depend from body 12 and are adapted to extend through suitable apertures in circuit board 44 for connection to circuit 46. Pins 40 and 42 may be attached to circuit 46 by any suitable attachment means, such as by solder 48.

FIG. 3 illustrates a connector 50 adapted to be joined with the connector illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Connector 50 comprises pin contact 52 which is joined to wire 54. Typically, wire 54 is embedded within insulation 56 and is connected to an electrical circuit (not shown). Pin contact 52 may be fitted in housing 58 and locked in place by lock tab 60. The diameter of pin contact 52 is preferably slightly larger than the diameter of bore 14 of connector 10.

,cavity 64 adapted to receive pin contact 52. The diameter of cavity 64 preferably approximates the distance between surfaces 32 and 34 of the connector to which it is to be assembled. Retaining key 66 is mounted to pin contact 52 and is adapted to abut surface 68 of bore 64.

FIG. 6 illustrates a modification of the connector illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Connector 10a includes cylindrical housing 70, preferably constructed of insulating material. Body 12 is supported within housing 70, and terminal contact 72 extends from body '12 at the opposite end from surface 16. Contact 72 is adapted to be connected to a suitable conductor, such as a wire (not shown) leading to a circuit (not shown). A recessed key portion 74 in body 12 is adapted to mate with portion 76 of housing 70 to prevent separation of body 12 from housing 70.

To construct connector 50, housing 58 is slid over wire 54 to expose the end of the wire. Pin contact 52 is then soldered, or otherwise attached, to wire 54 and housing 58 is slid over a recessed portion (not shown) on pin contact 52. Tab 60 locks housing 58 to pin contact 52. To construct connector 5011, housing 58 is slid over the exposed portion of wire 54 as hereinbefore described, and housing 62 is fitted to housing '58. Pin contact 52 is then assembled to wire 54 as hereinbefore described and housing 58 is fitted to pin contact 52 as hereinbefore described. Key 66 of pin contact 52 abuts surface 68 of housing 62 to thereby hold the assembly together.

Connector 10 is of unitary design and is assembled to circuit board 44 by inserting pins 40 and 42 through suitable apertures in the circuit board and soldering the pins to circuit conductor 46. Connector 100 may be constructed by heat-shrinking or otherwise molding insulator housing 70 over body 12 of the connector.

To assemble connectors :10 and 50 together, as illustrated in FIG. 7, pin contact 52 is fitted within bore 14 of connector 10. The diameter of pin contact 52 is slightly larger than bore 14 thereby requiring lateral displacement of jaws 26 and 28 to accept the pin contact within bore 14. Recesses 36 and 38 on body 12 provide adequate resilience to jaws 26 and 28 to enable the jaws to be displaced. Jaws 26 and 28 are biased toward axis 18 by virtue of this displacement so that the walls of bore 14 bear against the pin contact 52. Electrical connection is thereby established between the connectors.

To assemble connectors 10a and 50a, as illustrated in FIG. 8, pin contact 52 is fitted within bore 14 as hereinbefore described. In this case, however, the pin contact is initially pushed into the bore. When the contact is in the bore by a specified distance, the jaws, which were displaced by the presence of the pin contact within the bore, contact bore surface 64 of housing 62. Initially, chamfer surfaces 30 contact bore 64 so that further relative axial movement of connector 50a toward connector 100: causes bore 64 to react against chamfer 30 to press jaws 26 and 28 toward axis 18. With housing 62 assembled over body 12 as illustrated in FIG. 8, jaws 26 and 28 are pressed toward axis 18 so that the walls of bore 14 bear against pin contact 52 and are held locked against it. Thus, connector 52a is assembled to connector 10a with two innerface fits, one between surface 64 and surfaces 32 and 34, and the other between pin contact 52 and bore 14.

The present invention thus provides a flat connector adapted to be assembled to a pin contact. The assembled connectors are held firmly together due to the tight fit between the pin contact and the walls of the bore in the flat socket connector. Furthermore, in the case of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4-6 and 8, housing 62 bears against jaws 26 and 28 of the socket to provide a backup force.

The connectors according to the present invention are easily manufactured and assembled. The connectors provide positive electrical contact for connecting electrical circuits together and will withstand severe vibration.

This invention is not to be limited by the embodiments 1 shown in the drawings and described in the description, which are given by way of example and not of limitation, but only in accordance with the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination: a first connector comprising a first body of electrically conductive material having a first axis, said first body having a first pair of oppositely disposed surfaces and a second pair of oppositely disposed surfaces, said pairs of surfaces forming a portion of said first body having a cross-section having a first dimension between said first pair of surfaces which is smaller than a second dimension between said second pair of surfaces, a first bore axially disposed in said first body, said first bore forming an opening at one end of said first body and having a diameter greater than said first dimension and smaller than said second dimension to thereby form separate jaws, the surface of said first bore forming contactengaging surfaces on said jaws, a second bore through said first body normal to said first pair of surfaces, said second bore intersecting said first bore, and first connecting means attached to said first body for connecting said first body to a first electrical circuit; and a second connector com prising a second body of electrically conductive material having a second axis, said second body having a pin contact portion having a diameter greater than the diameter of said first bore, said extended portion being insertable into said first bore, a third body having a bore so sized relative to said second dimension as to bear against said second pair of surfaces when said extended portion is inserted into said first bore, said second body being mounted to said third body and said pin contact portion being at least partially within said bore of the third body, and second connecting means attached to said second body for connecting said second body to a second electrical circuit; whereby joining said first and second connectors together by inserting the pin contact portion into the first bore, the jaws on said first body are displaced 35 from said first axis and said pin contact portion is fitted between opposite contact-engaging surfaces on said jaws, and said bore of the third body bears against said second pair of surfaces to thereby press said jaws toward 4 said first axis to lock said pin contact portion against the contact-engaging surfaces on said jaws.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 further including recessed portions on said second pair of surfaces displaced from the end of said first body at said bore opening at least as far as said second bore to facilitate springing apart said jaws.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first connecting means comprises terminal means integral with said first body for mounting said first body to a circuit board.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first connecting means comprises terminal means integral with said first body adapted to be connected to an electrical conductor.

5. The combination as set forth in claim 4 further including a fourth body mounted to said first body, said third and fourth bodies being constructed of electrically insulated material.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,294,738 9/1942 Bruno 174-22 2,736,870 2/1956 De Jur et al. 339-45 2,828,474 3/1958 Fox 339-217 2,946,976 7/ 1960 Blain 339-17 2,947,964 8/1960 Johanson et a1. 33917(L) MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner R. A. HAFER, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 339-17, 258 

